Oral Answers to Questions

Rehman Chishti Excerpts

Tuesday 8th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)]

13. What steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services.

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

14. What steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services.

[Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)]

17. What steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Paul Burstow]

First, I will take the opportunity to pay that tribute to the excellent and hard work of clinicians in providing invaluable support to people affected by cancer. My hon. Friend is also right to refer to the importance of respite care for families. As part of the end-of-life strategy that the Government are taking forward, we are looking to improve palliative care services and inquiring into the possibility of a per-patient funding mechanism to cover the costs of these services.

[Rehman Chishti]

Given the Minister’s commitment to improving patient experience, and the significant learnings from the national cancer patient survey, will he ensure that from now on the survey will be conducted annually?

[Paul Burstow]

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to that survey, which has produced invaluable data. More than 65,000 patients took part in the 2010 survey, and it is proving to be an invaluable tool in enabling trusts and commissioners to identify areas where there is scope for improvement locally. The cancer strategy that we published in January commits us to repeating such a patient experience survey, and we are exploring the options at the moment.